Posted on 11/19/2012 10:38:04 PM PST by nickcarraway
What a difference an election can make.
Just a week after the re-election of Barack Obama ended all Republican hopes of overturning the new health care law known as " Obamacare," Gov. Rick Scott and other Florida leaders who have steadfastly rejected the idea are now willing to at least talk about implementing it for the state's 3.8 million uninsured.
" Mitt Romney did not win the election," Scott told reporters Friday in Washington D.C., hours before he released a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking for a meeting to discuss implementing the law. "So it's not an option to repeal Obamacare. So my goal now is: focus on what's good for our citizens."
He added: "The official response is going to be: 'I want to sit down with you. I want to see how we can work together to lower health care costs for Floridians.'" But it will be some time before Florida decides on how to implement crucial elements of the Affordable Care Act: setting up an insurance "exchange" and adding lower-income Floridians to the Medicaid program. Incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz wrote Sebelius Thursday night saying they could not yet make a call on whether to start an exchange — essentially, a state-run health insurance marketplace for small businesses and individuals.
The law says that if a state refuses to set up an exchange, the federal government will do it. So far, 13 states — mostly Democratic — and the District of Columbia have officially said they will run their own exchanges. Weatherford and Gaetz wrote that 100 rules and regulations are still being developed by the Obama administration, including guidelines on minimum coverage and benefits. And in his letter Friday, Scott said startup costs "are projected at $92.3 million" through next year, and annual operating costs to the state – based on experience in Illinois -- could range from $57.4 million to $88.6 million by 2016.
"We should be looking out for our consumers and we should be looking out for our state and doing what's best for them," said Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. "The problem is there are hundreds of unanswered questions that are out there with regard to the implementation to the Affordable Health Care Act. Until we have the answers to those questions, we don't know which plan gives our consumers the most choices."
Insurers are researching and trying to develop plans that work with the new requirements, but they too have a lot of questions, said Michael Garner, executive director of the Florida Association of Health Plans, a trade association for health insurers. They haven't even figured out if it's better for the federal government or the state to run the exchanges, or some sort of partnership.
"Until we get more information, it's too difficult to stipulate which direction is best," Garner said. The federal government counters that states have been offered help in getting the process started, and the deadline to decide on who should run the exchange has been extended from last week to Dec. 14. HHS has provided a blueprint of what a state exchange should look like and offered grants to pay design costs. Florida applied for the money in 2010 under Gov. Charlie Crist, but Scott ordered the state to return the $1 million check. The exchanges are a crucial key to the health care overhaul, which by 2014 will require all adults to either purchase health insurance, enroll in a federally subsidized plan — or pay a tax.
Large employers will be required to provide health coverage to employees or pay a fine. Smaller companies, of up to 100 employees, and individuals not covered by an employer would find insurance using the exchange, and lower-income purchasers would qualify for federal subsidies. Plans offered by the exchanges would provide a minimum level of benefits, with limited co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses.
The exchanges must begin enrolling users by October 2013 and be fully operational by Jan. 1, 2014.
Both Weatherford and Gaetz have said they want the Legislature to decide whether the state or federal government should run the insurance exchange, and whether Florida should expand its Medicaid program to cover an estimated 800,000 to 1.3 million low-income individuals who currently earn too much to qualify. In upholding the law in June, the U.S. Supreme Court said states could not be compelled to expand Medicaid eligibility.
Though the feds will pay 100 percent of the cost of the new enrollees, that will drop to 90 percent by 2020. Scott has said the state can't afford the expansion of Medicaid, which state analysts have pegged at about $1 billion but which Scott insists is likely to be higher. Scott also is seeking federal approval to put the state's existing Medicaid patients into managed care — like HMOs — under a cost-cutting proposal passed by the 2011 Legislature. "Statewide Medicaid managed care is one way we can act immediately to encourage more competition.
One could say the same about you.
Rick Scott has never been in favor of it, thats absurd.
Just a question. If the states do not implement an insurance exchange then the federal government does it. So if the states opt out aren’t we inviting more federal government instead of less?
Rick Scott is a prick. True story.
I hope that all of the statists that brought us 0bamacurse choke to death on it.
“Rick Scott is a prick. True story.”
I saw it on the internet so it must be true.
Yes, the states have lost any independence.
Government systems never fail, they only cost more regardless of how poorly they meet their stated goal.
Govt systems are about control and power for the bureaucrats.
Epic cave.
This is going to be a total disaster.
LLS
The Republican Party is the party of spineless, weak kneed politicians who will sell out in a heartbeat.
The Republican Party is the party of spineless, weak kneed politicians who will sell out in a heartbeat.
They are Pubbies.
They fold.
That is what they do.
It is their nature.
They prefer being the minority, because being the majority is just too much stress.
And as the minority, they still get stuff.
“Communism is here to stay. There is nothing we can do about it. Quit fooling yourselves.”
Not as long as I draw breath. If you don’t fight them... you are them.
LLS
LLS
We did not win the Senate, and we did not win the Presidency, and the law was already passed prior to the republican takeover of the House.
Here is what will happen.
First, big business was always the driver for Obamacare. They wanted out from under the huge expense and huge regulatory and man-hour requirements of providing health care for workers. There’s really no reason your employer should be providing your health care any more than they should be providing your car insurance.
They thought they wanted a clean business relationship of employer/employee. They think it will be better in the long run to pay extra taxes, fees, penalties or to find end-runs around Obamacare, such as employees working 29 hours or less and being part-time.
Therefore, with their extensive entanglement with governments local, state, and national, they will bring recalcitrant governments to heel until they get their wish of a European style company. So, expect governors and legislatures to cave.
What they also realize is that the expense is great. Following the European model, they will support calls for a Value Added Tax that will provide additional funds to government.
With all that in the book, they will use Germany as their model government, a government that values business, achievement, and tradition. Germany survives on quality goods with worldwide appeal, with tight labor laws, and with an acceptance of a meritocracy-based class system. It even elects occasion leaders who are “conservative”, meaning finacial conservatives.
So, look to Germany. I’m fairly convinced it’s the model being pursued by insiders, both republican and democratic.
In many ways, it’s a lenient society, but in others it is very restrictive.
The Fed has no money for the exchanges... if the states refuse... ZEROcare fails.
LLS
The state just went for Obama and the unpopular Rick Scott's up for reelection in 2014. Do not expect a recall threat, if one is even provided for under FL law, would prove beneficial to your cause. He's likely to face a very strong uphill battle to keep the governor's office out of Democrat hands.
“So, look to Germany. I’m fairly convinced it’s the model being pursued by insiders, both republican and democratic.”
The Germany of 1933 is all they are after.
About some of them, I think you are absolutely right. Not the GOP-E, though, or any remaining blue dogs.
I think the Obama faction really does believe in the dictatorship of the proletariat with themselves in the role of dictator.
The GOP-E, on the other hand, is more oligarchical and really does see themselves, people like Ann Coulter all the way to Paul Ryan, as smarter than the rest of us, and therefore, born to be in charge.
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